Latest KFF Health News Stories
House GOP’s Legal Challenge To Health Law Could Cause Premiums To Rise
The Obama administration said that, if upheld, last week’s Republican victory in federal court could have significant market implications.
Justices Punt Contraception Case Back To Lower Courts
The Supreme Court’s decision averts a 4-4 tie that would have left different parts of the country following different regulations. In announcing the decision from the bench, Chief Justice John Roberts said both sides have have made concessions since the case was argued in March.
EEOC Limits Employee Wellness Program Incentives With New Rules
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rules affirmed that wellness programs would be considered voluntary as long as an employers’ incentives or discounts don’t exceed more than 30 percent of the cost of an employee’s individual “self-only” health coverage. However, critics say under the regulations the programs can become coercive.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Supreme Court Sends Contraception Case Back To Lower Courts, Demands Compromise
The battle over the so-called ‘contraceptive mandate’ was one of the high court’s biggest issues this term, pitting religious liberty against reproductive rights for the second time in three years.
Viewpoints: ‘Second-Class’ Patients; Oklahoma And Medicaid Expansion; Congress And Opioids
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Outlets report on health news in Louisiana, Colorado, Michigan, California, Illinois, Florida and Iowa.
Hospital Merger Trend Drives Up Prices, Hurts Quality, FTC Chief Warns
In a speech to health care industry officials, Federal Trade Commission Chair Edith Ramirez says prices for an average in-patient stay can be almost $2,000 higher in areas where a hospital monopoly exists. Media outlets report on other hospital news from California, Connecticut and North Carolina.
First U.S. Case Of Microcephaly Related To Zika Reported In Puerto Rico
The fetus had developed a shrunken skull, calcified brain spots and tested positive for the Zika virus. Puerto Rico has been the hardest hit so far of any American state or territory by the outbreak.
For the Murphy family, the opioid epidemic isn’t just numbers and graphs — it’s the toll it took on their family when it held one of their own in its grasp.
The Origin Point Of Cancer Crucial To Understanding The Odds
While the cancer field is undergoing a revolution that could upend the way the disease is viewed, it’s still helpful for doctors to know where in the body it started. And an oncologist realizes sometimes, when it comes to treatment, it’s important for a doctor to use knowledge, wit and imagination to devise individualized therapies rather than going with the general course of action.
Democrats: Panel Investigating Planned Parenthood Acting In Ways Not Seen Since The Days Of McCarthy
In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan, Democratic leaders blast the “secret subpoenas” of the chairwoman of the special panel, Marsha Blackburn, saying she’s violating congressional rules. Elsewhere, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is suing over requirements that workplace health plans cover employee abortions.
As Telemedicine Booms, ‘Egregious Quality Issues’ Worry Researchers
A new study shows that online doctors are failing to ask patients “simple, relevant questions,” which have led them to misdiagnose a range of diseases.
Many People Still Unwillingly Confined To Nursing Homes Despite Landmark Court Decision
A Supreme Court ruling nearly 20 years ago said disabled people requiring public support were entitled to live in their community, rather than in institutions, but for many people that option is not yet a reality. In other Medicaid news, Kansas advocates are questioning plans to force enrollees to try cheaper drugs first.
Sticker Shock: About One In Three Who Visit Hospital Hit With Surprise Medical Bills
As insurers and hospitals point fingers at each other, it’s the patient who ends up paying thousands unexpectedly. In other news, ER doctors weigh in on costs in a survey.
HHS Extends Anti-Bias Health Care Protections To Cover Gender Identity
Under the new guidance, insurers and hospitals cannot deny services based on someone’s gender identity. Some advocates are disappointed, however, that the rule does not go far enough.
Insurers’ Losses Nearly Double In Second Year Of Health Law, Due Largely To Medical Costs
However, McKinsey & Co.’s analysis suggests that the health law’s subsidies should prevent a “death spiral,” in which an insurance market gets caught in a cycle of increasing rates and shrinking customer pools. Meanwhile, as some insurers pull out of the federal exchanges, rural areas are sometimes left with just one option.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Research Roundup: Caregivers’ Health; Rehab For Medicaid Kids; Retiree Coverage
Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.
